timmerman



(No Model.)

J. A. TIMMERMAN.

CIRCUIT CLOSER FOR TELEGRAPH KEYS. No. 258,825. Patented MaySO, 1882."

N. PETERS. FlwlmLilhogr-mpher. Wnshi c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. TIMMERMAN, OF ()DESSA, ONTARIO, CANADA.

CIRCUIT-CLOSER FOR TELEGRAPH-KEYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 258,825, dated May 30, 1882. Application filed March 13, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN ARTHUR TLVIMER- MAN, of Odessa, in the Province of Ontario and Dominion of Canada, have invented'a new and useful Improvement in Telegraph-Keys, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention consists in an automatic circuit-closing device applied to a key of ordinary construction to insure closure when the key is not in use, 'as hereinafter described and claimed.

- Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both thefigures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation,partly sectional, of a telegraph-key provided with my improvement, and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the key.

0 is the base of the instrument. A is the lever, sustained by pivots a on set-screws b, and c is the front contact point, as usual. at is a circuit-closer, consisting of a spring-plate attached by one end beneath the point 0 and in metallic contact therewith, and resting by its outer end on the back partof the base O,so as -to close the circuit.

B is a lever hung on one pivot a, at the side of the-main lever A, and having its forward end bent upward to extend through an aperture in the button 6 of the main lever. Above button e the end of lever B is provided with a flat disk or button, i, and the button 6 is recessed on the upper side to receive the disk. At its rear end the lever B connects by a link or hook,f, with aplug or screw, 9, that is fixed in spring d andinsulated therefrom. Normally the spring 01 rests on base 0 and draws down the rear end of lever B, so that the button i on the forward end of lever B is retained in a position elevated above the button 6. In this position the spring d closes the circuit.

When the key or lever A is used the button 11 is naturally depressed into the recess of button e, and the rear end of lever B being thereby raised the spring d is lifted from contact with base (3, and this position is maintained so long as the key is in use; but as soon as the lever A is released by the operator the spring d returns and closes the circuit.

It will be seen that the circuit is thus automatically closed through the instrument without the attention of the operator being required, and the liability of the line being left open by neglect is prevented. There is, further, no risk of the line being opened by the accidental moving of the spring, as is the case with pivoted circuit-closers usually employed.

The location of lever B may be changed with reference to the main lever. For instance, .it may be placed above instead of at the side. I

prefer the arrangement shown as being most convenient.

I have shown in the drawings the pivoted piece usually employed for closing the circuit; but that may be entirely dispensed with in instruments having my automatic device.

Having thus described myinvention, I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent- The circuit closer consisting of a springplate, d, attached by one end beneath and in metallic contact with the front contact-point, c, and resting at its outer end on the back of base 0, in combination with the lever B, hung on pivot a, and extending with its bent forward end through the recessed button 6 of the connecting by hook f with the screw g, resting V on said spring-plate, as shown and described.

JOHN ARTHUR TIMME RMAN. 

